Asian Games 2026: Manu Bhaker, Pawan Sehrawat lead India’s parade at opening ceremony
Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat led the Indian contingent into the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium as the Asian Games 2026 officially opened in Japan on Saturday.
The opening ceremony brought together athletes from across the continent for the formal start of the 20th edition of the Asian Games.
Pawan Sehrawat was a late replacement for two-time Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who had initially been named alongside Bhaker as India’s flag-bearer.
However, Tajinderpal Singh Toor had to withdraw due to logistical issues. Pawan Sehrawat, an Asian Games gold medallist with the Indian men’s kabaddi team, was subsequently handed the honour.
Manu Bhaker, meanwhile, was one of India’s standout performers at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events.
The Indian contingent was dressed predominantly in navy blue. Women wore saris with patterned silver-grey borders, while the men were dressed in matching navy blue jackets and trousers.
As the Indians entered the stadium, they followed a volunteer carrying the national flag alongside a heart-shaped placard bearing India’s name.
The opening ceremony was designed around the ‘Harmonic Heart Beat’ concept, with the stage itself constructed in the shape of a heart to reflect the theme of athletes from across Asia being united in spirit.
Japanese filmmaker and Nagoya native Yukihiko Tsutsumi served as the chief creative director for the ceremony.
Athletes representing the Olympic Council of Asia’s 45 National Olympic Committees participated in the opening ceremony, with more than 11,000 athletes expected to compete across 43 sports during the competition.
The biggest reception of the parade was reserved for hosts Japan, whose athletes were greeted by loud cheers as they entered the stadium.
The main ceremony was preceded by a warm-up programme featuring Japanese boy band INI and the Shigo District Bo-no-te Preservation Society.
The evening also marked the culmination of the Asian Games torch relay, which began at Nagoya Castle on August 22 and travelled through all 40 municipalities of Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya’s 16 wards with around 1,000 torchbearers.
The relay followed flame-lighting ceremonies connected to Tokyo and Hiroshima, the two previous Japanese cities to stage the Asian Games, before the flames were brought together in Nagoya.
Japan is hosting the Asian Games for the third time, 32 years after Hiroshima 1994. Tokyo staged the country’s first edition in 1958. The Asian Games 2026 will run until October 4.
